2 weeks Ago By Rachael Ward
An expelled Liberal MP says she couldn't believe men who gatecrashed a women's rights rally outside state parliament were neo-Nazis. Login or signup to continue reading Moira Deeming said she wanted to confirm the group of men at the Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne were actually neo-Nazis because "it's the most serious thing you can say". The men sparked outrage when they performed the Nazi salute at the rally.
Ms Deeming lives in fear of political violence and is "distraught" her children had called her a Nazi, according to evidence in her high-profile defamation battle against Victoria's opposition leader over his comments after the events outside parliament in March 2023. "Surely it's not true that we have legitimate people who actually believe, seriously believe in Nazism in 2023," Ms Deeming told the court on day four of the three-week trial on Thursday. "I'm not calling anyone an actual Nazi unless I'm sure.
" She said it was shocking anyone would do the gesture, after earlier in the week revealing she did not see it happen until the men were escorted away by police. Ms Deeming has been an independent MP since she was suspended and then expelled from the Liberal Party in May 2023. She confirmed she had leaked defamation concerns notices to media because it was "the best way" to defend herself and claimed party leader John Pesutto had refused to speak to her since the suspension.
Ms Deeming said she "extraordinarily distressed" by his media release after the rally. British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull also attended the rally and Ms Deeming was asked about her social media presence, including a photo of what appeared to be a Barbie doll in a Nazi uniform. "She told me it was mocking the people who call her Nazi Barbie," Ms Deeming said.
In an affidavit, Liberal Party figure Nyunggai Warren Mundine described Ms Deeming as a close friend and recounted a conversation where she told him her children said "my mum's a Nazi". "She told me that, even though they did not understand what this meant, she was distraught that her children were saying this," Mr Mundine wrote. He said he was initially shocked by a media release he understood to be "suggesting that Moira was fraternising with Nazis" but came to understand the allegation against her was baseless.
Other affidavits detailed the personal and professional impact to Ms Deeming since the day of the demonstration, including her husband Andrew who revealed the mother-of-four has become isolated, reclusive and "lives in fear" of politically motivated violence. Mr Deeming said he has seen online threats against his wife and the couple's children. "She now fears going out in public," Mr Deeming said.
Multiple high-profile Liberals are expected to give evidence during the trial including deputy Victorian Liberal leader David Southwick and former MP Matt Bach, who is flying in from the UK to address the court. Federal Senator Sarah Henderson's affidavit revealed she had reached out to Mr Pesutto over Whatsapp with concerns over reports about moves to expel Ms Deeming from the party and questioned whether she had been given procedural fairness. In a secret recording of a meeting played to the court on Tuesday, Mr Pesutto said Ms Deeming should resign from the party or he would start a process to remove her.
Mr Pesutto has denied wrongdoing and previously reached settlements with Ms Keen-Minshull and rally organiser Angela Jones, issuing both a public apology. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
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